Pennington comes up big for Central Valley

CENTER TWP. -- JaQuan Pennington is proof that dynamite comes in small packages.

He’s the ultimate scatback. He’s one of the smallest running backs in the WPIAL, and certainly the tiniest in the Parkway Conference.

“I’m only 5-foot-3, but I’m tough,” he said Friday after Central Valley’s 29-6 win over New Castle.

In the four Parkway games played in Week 1, six running backs rushed for 100 yards or more. Pennington was clearly the smallest. Compare him to backs like West Allegheny’s Tory Delmonico (6-2, 203 pounds) or Moon’s Cole Blake (5-11, 200).

Central Valley needed Pennington to play big Friday when Whitehead joined a long list of players from both teams who cramped up on a hot and muggy evening. Whitehead, who also starts at cornerback on defense, hardly played in the second half. He scored the game’s first two touchdowns – the first on a 40-yard run – but didn’t touch the ball in the second half.

No problem.

Pennington, who's listed as 155 pounds, gashed New Castle for 111 yards on 23 carries. He scored the game’s last two touchdowns, the first on a 13-yard run and the second on a 14-yard pass from quarterback Nate Climo.

“I’ve got heart,” Pennington said. “That’s all it takes.”

Preston Johnson, who starts at fullback and linebacker for Central Valley, isn’t surprised by anything Pennington does on the football field. They’ve been friends since their boyhood days in Rochester.

“We grew up together. I’ve seen that my whole life,” Johnson said. “He’s got the biggest heart I’ve ever seen. I expect that out of him. That’s the way he is.”

Last year, when Central Valley tied for first in the Parkway and advanced to the WPIAL semifinals, Whitehead and Pennington proved to a dynamic one-two punch. Whitehead led the team by rushing for 882 yards and 10 TDs. Pennington added 533 yards and five TDs.

It figures to be more of the same this year.

Whitehead, a 5-11, 180-pound junior, is the starter. But coach Mark Lyons has packages in which both Whitehead and Pennington are on the field at the same time. There may be times when Whitehead moves out to wide receiver with Pennington in the backfield. They could be times when both will join Johnson be in the backfield.

“That’s our heavy package,” Whitehead said.

“We just want to keep pushing the ball and driving it down people’s throats,” Pennington said.

Pennington can do that … even at 5-foot-3.

RECAP

CENTER TWP. – On a night when players from both teams were leaving the game with leg cramps, Central Valley won its opener 29-6 over New Castle.

Star running back Jordan Whitehead started strong by scoring the Warriors’ first two touchdowns. But he missed at least half the game with cramps.

With Whitehead sidelined, running back Jaquan Pennington took advantage by scoring Central Valley’s last two touchdowns.

Whitehead gave the Warriors the lead for good by scoring on a 40-yard run on CV’s first possession. He scored in the second quarter on a 2-yard run.

Pennington closed out the scoring with two fourth-quarter TDs, the first on a 13-yard run and the second on a 14-yard TD catch from quarterback Nate Climo.

New Castle 0 0 6 0 -- 6

Central Valley 7 7 2 13 -- 29

CV: Whitehead 40 run (Churovia kick)

CV: Whitehead 2 run (Churovia kick)

CV: Safety, Minenok tackled in end zone

NC: Hooker 10 pass from Cox (pass failed)

CV: Pennington 13 run (Churovia kick)

CV: Pennington 14 pass from Climo (kick failed)

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